Control arrangement for mains-operated apparatuses that are supplied with a low voltage and provided with a mains activation device

Abstract

A control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators operated with a low voltage and supplied by a mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) provided with a mains activation device. A manually actuated switching unit ( 3 ) consolidated into a switching panel ( 12 ) and serves to control the actuators and the mains activation device by switching contacts such as pushbuttons. Transmission paths are provided to transmit control commands to the mains activation device and to the actuators. The switching unit ( 3 ) is simplified by separate switching contacts ( 4, 4 ′) and ( 5, 5 ′) and separate transmission paths ( 4 A) and ( 5 A) respectively provided in the switching unit ( 3 ) for the main activation device and for the functional actuators respectively, while the control circuits of the mains activation device and of the functional actuators are permanently separated from one another.

1. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators that are operated with a low voltage, and supplied by a mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) that is provided with a mains activation device, comprising:
 a) a switching unit ( 3 ) that is consolidated into a manually operated switching panel ( 12 ) and serves to control the functional actuators and the mains activation device of the apparatus ( 1 ) to be controlled, 
 b) several electrical switching contacts on the switching panel ( 12 ) that are mechanically actuated, and 
 c) transmission means for transmitting control commands to the mains activation device and to the functional actuators, 
 wherein the switching unit ( 3 ) comprises separate actuator switching contacts ( 4 ,  4 ′) and mains activation device contacts ( 5 ,  5 ′), and 
 said transmission means comprises separate actuator transmission means ( 4 A) and mains activation device transmission means ( 5 A) respectively provided for the functional actuators and for the mains activation device, such that the mains activation device and of the functional actuators are permanently electrically separated from one another. 
 
   
   
     2. Control arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the separate actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts ( 4 ,  5 ;  4 ′,  5 ′) are combined into a double switching contact adapted to be actuated by depressing a single pushbutton. 
   
   
     3. Control arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein said switching unit further comprises a contact travel transfer element ( 14 ,  14 ′) adapted to jointly close the actuator switching and mains activation device contacts ( 4 , 5 ;  4 ′, 5 ′). 
   
   
     4. Control arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein said contact travel transfer element is respectively arranged between the actuator switching contacts and the mains activation device contacts ( 4 ,  5 ;  4 ′,  5 ′), and wherein the pushbutton ( 10 A) acts upon only one of the actuator switching and mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     5. Control arrangement according to  claim 4 , further comprising actuator relay switches ( 7 ,  7 ′) that selectively complete a circuit of the actuator transmission means, and wherein each actuator relay switch is controlled by a control voltage that is switched together with the mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     6. Control arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the mains activation device further comprises a mains-activation relay switch ( 8 A) that selectively energizes the mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) with a mains voltage. 
   
   
     7. Control arrangement according to  claim 3 , further comprising actuator relay switches ( 7 ,  7 ′) that selectively complete a circuit of the actuator transmission means, and wherein each actuator relay switch is controlled by a control voltage that is switched together with the mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     8. Control arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the mains activation device further comprises a mains-activation relay switch ( 8 A) that selectively energizes the mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) with a mains voltage. 
   
   
     9. Control arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the contact travel transfer element ( 14 ,  14 ′) is defined with a hammer head shape and is mounted on a spring arm. 
   
   
     10. Control arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the contact travel transfer element ( 14 ,  14 ′) is shaped to simultaneously close the switching contacts ( 4 , 5 ;  4 ′, 5 ′). 
   
   
     11. Control arrangement according to  claim 2 , further comprising actuator relay switches ( 7 ,  7 ′) that selectively complete a circuit of the actuator transmission means, and wherein each actuator relay switch is controlled by a control voltage that is switched together with the mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     12. Control arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the mains activation device further comprises a mains-activation relay switch ( 8 A) that selectively energizes the mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) with a mains voltage. 
   
   
     13. Control arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising actuator relay switches ( 7 ,  7 ′) that selectively complete a circuit of the actuator transmission means, and wherein each actuator relay switch is controlled by a control voltage that is switched together with the mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     14. Control arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the mains activation device further comprises a mains-activation relay switch ( 8 A) that selectively energizes the mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) with a mains voltage. 
   
   
     15. Control arrangement according to  claim 14 , further comprising an auxiliary power source ( 9 ) that is used to activate the mains-activation relay switch, and wherein the auxiliary power source is recharged each time the mains transformer is switched on. 
   
   
     16. Control arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein commands are transmitted from the switching panel to the apparatus to be controlled via a wireless link. 
   
   
     17. Control arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching panel is removed from a base station in order to remotely control the apparatus to be controlled in a wireless fashion. 
   
   
     18. Control arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the mains activation device is arranged on the base station in such a way that mains activation is automatically initiated when the switching panel is removed from the base station and automatically turned off again when the hand control is placed back onto the base station. 
   
   
     19. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said electrical switching contacts on the switching panel ( 12 ) comprise respective pushbuttons. 
   
   
     20. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators that are operated with a low voltage and supplied by a mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) that is provided with a mains activation device, comprising:
 a) a switching unit ( 3 ) that is consolidated into a manually operated switching panel ( 12 ) and serves to control the functional actuators and the mains activation device of the apparatus ( 1 ) to be controlled, 
 b) several electrical switching contacts on the switching panel ( 12 ) that are mechanically actuated, and 
 c) transmission means for transmitting control commands to the mains activation device and to the functional actuators, 
 wherein the switching unit ( 3 ) comprises separate actuator switching contacts ( 4 ,  4 ′) and mains activation device contacts ( 5 ,  5 ′), and 
 said transmission means comprises separate actuator transmission means ( 4 A) and mains activation device transmission means ( 5 A) respectively provided for the functional actuators and for the mains activation device, such that the mains activation device and of the functional actuators are permanently electrically separated from one another; 
 wherein the separate actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts ( 4 ,  5 ;  4 ′,  5 ′) are combined into a double switching contact adapted to be actuated by depressing a single pushbutton, and, 
 wherein the combined actuator switching and mains activation device contacts are successively closed. 
 
   
   
     21. Control arrangement according to  claim 20 , wherein said switching unit further comprises a contact travel transfer element ( 14 ,  14 ′) adapted to jointly close the actuator switching and mains activation device contacts ( 4 , 5 ;  4 ′, 5 ′). 
   
   
     22. Control arrangement according to  claim 20 , further comprising actuator relay switches ( 7 ,  7 ′) that selectively complete a circuit of the actuator transmission means, and wherein each actuator relay switch is controlled by a control voltage that is switched together with the mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     23. Control arrangement according to  claim 20 , wherein the mains activation device further comprises a mains-activation relay switch ( 8 A) that selectively energizes the mains-operated transformer ( 2 ) with a mains voltage. 
   
   
     24. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators that are operated with an electrical voltage, said control arrangement comprising:
 a switching unit ( 3 ) that serves to control the functional actuators, wherein, in said switching unit, separate actuator switching contacts ( 4 , 4 ′) and mains activation device contacts ( 5 , 5 ′) and separate actuator transmission means ( 4 A) and mains activation device transmission means ( 5 A) are respectively provided for the functional actuators and a mains activation device, such that the functional actuators and mains activation device are permanently electrically separated from one another, wherein the separate actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts are combined into a double switching contact that is actuated by depressing a single pushbutton. 
 
   
   
     25. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators that are operated with an electrical voltage, said control arrangement comprising:
 a switching unit ( 3 ) that serves to control the functional actuators, wherein, in said switching unit, separate actuator switching contacts ( 4 , 4 ′) and mains activation device contacts ( 5 , 5 ′) and separate actuator transmission means ( 4 A) and mains activation device transmission means ( 5 A) are respectively provided for the functional actuators and a mains activation device, such that the functional actuators and mains activation device are permanently electrically separated from one another, wherein the separate actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts are combined into a double switching contact that is actuated by depressing a single pushbutton, wherein the actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts are successively closed when said single pushbutton is depressed. 
 
   
   
     26. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with several functional actuators that are operated with an electrical voltage, said control arrangement comprising:
 a switching unit ( 3 ) that serves to control the functional actuators, wherein, in said switching unit, separate actuator switching contacts ( 4 , 4 ′) and mains activation device contacts ( 5 , 5 ′) and separate actuator transmission means ( 4 A) and mains activation device transmission means ( 5 A) are respectively provided for the functional actuators and a mains activation device, such that the functional actuators and mains activation device are permanently electrically separated from one another, wherein the separate actuator switching contacts and mains activation device contacts are combined into a double switching contact that is actuated by depressing a single pushbutton, said control arrangement further comprising a contact travel transfer element ( 14 ,  14 ′) adapted to jointly close the actuator switching and mains activation device contacts. 
 
   
   
     27. Control arrangement according to  claim 26 , wherein said contact travel transfer element is respectively arranged between the actuator switching contacts and the mains activation device contacts ( 4 ,  5 ;  4 ′,  5 ′), and wherein the pushbutton ( 10 A) acts upon only one of the actuator switching and mains activation device contacts. 
   
   
     28. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with at least one functional actuator that is operated with an electrical voltage and a mains activation device, said control arrangement comprising:
 a) a switching unit ( 3 ) that is consolidated into a manually operated switching panel ( 12 ) and serves to control the at least one functional actuator and mains activation device of the apparatus ( 1 ) to be controlled, 
 b) at least one electrical switching contact on the switching panel ( 12 ) that is mechanically actuated, 
 c) transmission means for transmitting control commands to the mains activation device and to the functional actuators, wherein the manual control panel is removed from a base station in order to remotely control the apparatus to be controlled in a wireless fashion. 
 
   
   
     29. Control arrangement for apparatuses ( 1 ) with at least one functional actuator that is operated with an electrical voltage and a mains activation device, said control arrangement comprising:
 a) a switching unit ( 3 ) that is consolidated into a manually operated switching panel ( 12 ) and serves to control the at least one functional actuator and mains activation device of the apparatus ( 1 ) to be controlled, 
 b) at least one electrical switching contact on the switching panel ( 12 ) that is mechanically actuated, 
 c) transmission means for transmitting control commands to the mains activation device and to the functional actuators, wherein the manual control panel can be removed from a base station in order to remotely control the apparatus to be controlled in a wireless fashion, wherein the mains activation device is arranged on the base station in such a way that a mains activation is automatically initiated when the hand control is removed from the base station and automatically turned off again when the hand control is placed back onto the base station.